Rededication ceremony brings plaque home

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- In 1950, North Field was renamed Andersen Air Force Base in honor of Brig. Gen. James Roy Andersen, who was killed in an aircraft accident near Kwajelien in 1945. 

To commemorate  the event, a plaque was placed in front of the original wing headquarters building and has been placed at several other areas of the base since then. 

Now, more than 50 years later, that plaque once again resides in front of the wing headquarters building after a rededication ceremony Sept. 6. 

"It's an honor to celebrate the legacy of a plaque that has followed its way through two wars that represent the many activities and events that have occurred at this Air Force Base," said Brig. Gen. Douglas Owens, 36th Wing commander, during the ceremony. 

Because the plaque is more than 50 years old, it needed some touching up before it was rededicated. 

A key player in that project was Seikichi "Mr. Paul" Kaneshiro, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, who has worked at Andersen since 1956 and was here for the original dedication ceremony. 

With the help of four craftsmen, Kaneshiro and his team spent more than 120 hours to get the plaque ready for the rededication ceremony. 

"I'm proud of [the plaque]. I designed the [new] monument and refinished it," Kaneshiro.

The plaque reads: Dedicated 15 April 1950 in memory of Brig. Gen. James Roy Andersen 1904-1945. Missing in action 26 February 1945 while serving as Chief of Staff Pacific Ocean Area.